What the hell is the government doing? Waiting for someone to donate money I suppose.

We have 2 great big ships, capable of rendering much humanitarian assistance in Indonesia twice, following natural disasters, & the Solomons following a man made disaster.

What are they doing sitting uselessly in Sydney, when there are at least 2 coastal communities with no electricity, no water & no help.

HMAS Manoora & HMAS Kanimbla can each desalinate enough water to supply a very large town. They have landing craft capable of landing army or civilian water trucks to distribute desperately needed water in areas not yet accessible by road. Why aren't they there?

Do we have anyone in Canberra capable of seeing past their navel, to realise these people need help. So far I have seen news conferences telling us someone has been appointed to do something, but what has happened. Not bl@@dy much by the looks of it.

I did hope we may be a bit better than the US was with Katrina, but so far it would not appear so.

Unless you have a nice big airport, so Julia, & Anna can fly in for a photo opportunity, don't hold your breath waiting for help folks, you aren't on the radar.

Hasbeen:

The PM has sent all 4,000 troops based in Townsville to aid North Queensland's recovery after the monster category storm. Extra police and State Emergency Service Personnel are also being sent to North Queensland. A ship carrying 2,750 tonnes of essential supplies has left for Tully. Volunteers from Victoria and Tasmania are also on their way. For your information, in the Brisbane flooding recovery when people were battling with filth and mud, there were 1,500 soldiers in Brisbane doing the work. Did you know that over 7,600 people were evacuated (and looked after) during this recent monster of a storm. I think that you've jumped the gun a bit here with your criticism - all that can be done is being done - and Anna Bligh has performed exceptionally under the difficult circumstances. As has the PM.

Lexi nothing you say can stop the ideas that in some way it is federal governments fault these events took place.
Now those complaining are the few but they never consider the costs pain and just how much its impacts will be worse before better.
If we send the Navy,plus every Manly ferry,and we find a need for them here some will kick the can about that too.
Have a great day hasbeen.

We have coastal communities who, in days after the event, have still received no help at all.

We have the army picking up sticks, in some less damaged towns, because they can't access those who are most in need of help, due to flood cut roads. These are beach front towns, accessible by landing craft from our ships.

We have the first people from the outside world into these communities are the media, & their camera crews. Just what are emergency services doing, if the media can drive in.

We have ships that are set up to carry & support 400 army people, & all their equipment sitting idle. Strangely we could get these ships to overseas disasters. They carry helicopters, have medical centers, communications designed as head quarters & control centers, & most of the things required. Why do we only use them to help other countries?

Belly you are sick. Anyone who can defend the current operation, has a perception problem, that only sees sunlight where this disorganised rabble are concerned.

Get well soon, & pray you never need help.

Tony Abbott visited along with 'what's his name' the Qld State opposition leader. It is uncertain what was the outcome of that apart from the usual foolish baiting of Gillard to let him (Abbott) advise on cuts - which, given Tony Abbott's statements at the election and since would fall heavily on disability pensioners as a first priority. Tony bounces between very narrow rails.

Anything seen of those seat-polishing Greens senators and specifically Bob Brown? Or are they contributing to green house gasses elsewhere with their diatribes and first class air flights?

Hasbeen:

You tell Belly that he's sick - well how about putting your money where your mouth is? If you're sincere and really want to do something constructive instead of simply stirring on a Forum, venting your spleen, and criticising (that's easy, achieves nothing, and anybody can do it)- Email the PM with your questions and suggestions:
The Hon. Julia Gillard, MP at:

http://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm

Worth a try - and at least you'd be doing more than just mouthing off.
You might even get a reply.

cont'd ...

Alternatively - you can keep on doing what you're doing and achieving nothing, or do what my husband does - stand in front of the TV, and scream your lungs out at the government - and wonder why nothing is being done!

Hasbeen old mate I forgive you, honestly,you lost it you often do, me too some times mate.
Now lets see, you think the Navy should set out to provide lighting, ok so far, maybe hospital ships?
Or turn them in to living quarters.
No water or power you say, seen an out back drovers camp?
Just 10 years ago road workers lived like that.
note how I have been online more last month?
Gave just a bit too much to these folk,not rich,have to stay home more,but proud I did, my grand represented a big part of my paid for pension income, but it is ok.
Have you ever thought., just once,you may be wrong.
I hope so bloke, to think you are never wrong is a symptom off insanity.
Don't like you much, rarely agree with you, but bloke I truly hold no grudge you have your say, I will continue to confront poor thinking.

Hasbeen is acting on outdated information again.

Personally I do not find Hasbeens concerns that something more effective could possibly be done unreasonable, given the track record of this government.

Hasbeen is possibly responding intuitively to the old adage of "once bitten twice shy" except in this governments case it is " bitten a hundred times in three years and as shy as hell" when it comes to any confidence whatsoever that they will deliver anything even right.

SOG:

You really need to do a bit of research before making comments like that. Try achievements of the Howard Government, and see what sort of a list you can come up with. And let's not even start on the persona of Tony Abbott...

SOG is a typical supporter of a govt; that is in no shape for anything.
It is his belief that three word Tony is the supremo no matter what. These types never see any good in any other side, other than their own.
It's a football team approach to politics.

Lexi and a597 fair observations.

But if the Federal and NSW governments change while I am on this forum, and they mismanage and waste and lie I will vent my contempt for them as well, you just gotta wait. But right now the Labor Lawyers that run the Labor Party can get stuffed, and as they are rather vacuous there is loads of room.

SOG:

I'm from Victoria - so I can't really comment on what goes on in NSW.
We've got a new state government in Victoria at present. As you said,
let's wait and see how much better they will be compared to the previous state government. In Victoria - for the past decade they worked on roads, railways, schools, hospitals,public transport, desalination plants, you name it - they attempted to do most of it. We've lived in Victoria for the past 35 years and we have no complaints with the past Labor Government unlike the previous Liberal government under Jeff Kennett which was a disaster - his policy was - save money on everything, cut-back, downsize, to hell with the taxpayers, jobs for the boys, and concessions for big business. Kennett ruined the hospital system, transport system, libraries, schools, local governments, aged-care facilities, closed down mental-care,sold off public assets and then had the nerve to join "Beyond Blue," (an organisation for people suffering from depression, and mental stress). Also under Kennett they brought in the infamous "Grand Prix," which to this day has been a multi-million dollar loss and drain on the State economy. We've yet to see what the new government will bring -we can only hope that it won't be a repeat of the previous Liberal government. There was a time when Liberals were in power that people were moving north to Queensland. It appears that at the time the National Country Party Government in Queensland was better. Under the recent Labor Government the population growth in Victoria was greater then that of NSW and Queensland. Still, people want a change every decade - let's hope this time they won't live to regret it.

Lexi you taught me something, thanks, I always expected Sydney to be the primo immigration destination. This from the papers March 2010:

"Melbourne has by far the biggest growth that any Australian city has ever known. It is adding to pressure on the state’s public transport, roads, schools and hospitals – not to mention house prices."

Lexi in Sydney last weekend a tiny semi detached four room (in total)house with no floor boards in Annandale that has been uninhabited for 8 years sold for $800K. The guy who purchased it said that maximum building costs would be $120 to 180k given the whole property is the size of a two car garage, making it a million buck exercise. That same house when habitable 20 years ago was valued at $85k.

Lexi just on Kennett, do you recall these names, Tri-continental, or the Pyramid building society? The incompetence factor from our Labor political masters and their public service was breathtaking and financially devastating to the average Joe, not the money, the average Joe, which is why you Mexicans voted Kennett in.

Lexi/Sonofgloin first let me say this.
Sonofgloin Lexi had it quite right about your comment.
Look at the post history of people, consider right now,this very minute Armed services, emergency services, volunteers, are like ants on the ground.
we sent out Navy to remote Islands, bringing things that could not be bought ANY OTHER WAY.
This TRAGIC EVENT is being used as a weapon of war on Labor!
Even with in opposition meetings near war is being fought.
Now please, consider this, some of us, me,are never going to vote conservative, this issue its handling PROVES TO ME they are blind to my part of Australia.
Why can we not all under stand,this issue should unite us not divide?
Lexi next post.

Lexi Good morning, I do live in NSW it is my home state.
I have lived for the ALP and will continue to do so forever.
At times that will bring me to confront them.
This has been the case for three years in NSW.
NSW in the half last century has more often had an ALP government than not.
This one, no easy job to say, is dead and smelly.
We lost the plot along time ago,love him or loath him, I love him Carr left and self interest took over.
A mob fought another mob,for power both took turns at rolling the rank and file membership up and down a very rough hill.
No party MUST EVER be supported no matter what it crimes, no party ever had a bigger list of them.
My love of my party demands it is removed, starts again,to be the party it was.
We however are election a shadow,a man with policy's we have not seen, a party that never helps the average, that we know will be better, no party could be worse.
It Lexi is the followers of ALP that are rolling the rock over the cave door this time.
And it hurts,I still love my party but tough love is needed.
My last comment?
How truly great our country would be if EVERY ONE demanded better from their party, I charge many here with a one eyed combative view of politics.

SOG and Belly:

Thanks for being so open and honest and sharing your views with me on this Forum. Politics will always be a contentious issue I guess. To my way of thinking - I think that the Australian voters usually get it right in the end. We'll have to wait and see what develops in the political arena in the terms ahead. I think everyone needs to lift their game politically because at present things aren't looking good for many people. Talking about house prices - a house that was ready for demolition in our old neighbourhood here in Melbourne - recently sold for $860,000 - I suspect it was bought by a developer who's building units on an adjoining block and saw an opportunity to extend.

You southern lefties make me sick.

We had people on Magnetic island, collecting water to drink, from roadside puddles, & boiling it over a fire of part of their house, [the only dry wood they could find], & you lot are upset about my opinion of Gillard. Get real people.

My main complaint about Gillard & the other twit, Anna, is their tying up of resources with their photo oppotunitiess, & the same goes for Abbott.

My real bitch is with our totally useless public service.

Every time we have an emergency, [fire, flood, cyclone], we find the top echelon, of the departments required to help, totally lacking in ability, or sense.

I think the bureaucracy is now such a huge voting block that both major parties are afraid to do the necessary surgery to get rid of all the dead wood.

Hold onto your hats, it is only going to get worse.

Hasbeen:

I can understand your frustration. However you'll find that you won't get much sympathy when you continue to use labels like, "You Southern Lefties make me sick..." We should all be in this together - as fellow Australians - united - not divided.

Hasbeen:>> My main complaint about Gillard & the other twit, Anna, is their tying up of resources with their photo oppotunitiess, & the same goes for Abbott.<<

Bit of a picky complaint Hasbeen, in that the resource taken up for them to make their political mileage from it is miniscule compared to the whole. Remember Christine Nixon had a nine course restaurant meal before reacting to the Vic bush fires and they rightly crucified her for it. The expectation is that both lots should be seen often, and looking terribly terribly sorry for the duration of the calamity.

>> My real bitch is with our totally useless public service. Every time we have an emergency, [fire, flood, cyclone], we find the top echelon, of the departments required to help, totally lacking in ability, or sense.<<

We are of course talking about the managers and not the ants, the ants risk their lives for us and are stifled by too many agencies and too many bureaucratic processes competing with each other. Cyclone Katrina in the States was a prime example of over governance causing impotence when it comes to reaction and follow through times.

>> I think the bureaucracy is now such a huge voting block that both major parties are afraid to do the necessary surgery to get rid of all the dead wood.<<

Don't forget their union’s part in our public service; my wife is a teacher and the 45 degree slant to the left that the PSA usually carries runs out to 80 degrees during elections.

Thanks Hasbeen you in every post add to the opinion I have of you.
Sorry but clearly you are not much good at clear thinking, easiest thing in the world to craft insult.
My life has bought me into contact with many such as you.
And never once if it was personal contact, did they have any support for their views in their immediate surroundings.
OH don't worry about him he is always like that stuff, no doubt you hear those words often.
BALANCED understanding, is called for, my words about LABOR my indifference to Gillards leadership, my anti GREENS stance, and you call me lefty?
Not rare,true debate is often won not by our own words but the rambling ones of our opponent, my regards
Try harder next time.
Straight set victory's can be less fun.

Kudos where kudos is due. Belly is far removed from one I would consider zealously Left, such as a597, bless his or her little Fabian sox.